Flexible endoscopic stitching devices

Abstract

An endoscopic stitching device includes a tool assembly having a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another, each jaw defining a needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof; a drive assembly including a pair of concentric, individually rotatably and translatably supported barrels, each barrel defining a central lumen therethrough; and a pair of axially translatable needle engaging blades slidably supported, one each, in a respective jaw. The stitching device further includes a center rod slidably and rotatably disposed through the lumen of the barrels, a distal end of the center rod being operatively engaged with the pair of jaws.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An endoscopic stitching device, comprising:
 a tool assembly including:
 a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another, each jaw defining a needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof; 
 a drive assembly; and 
 a pair of needle engaging blades slidably supported, one each, in a respective jaw, each blade having an advanced position wherein a distal end of the blade engages a suture needle when the suture needle is in the respective jaw to thereby secure the suture needle to the jaw, and a retracted position wherein the distal end of the blade is out of engagement with the suture needle to thereby permit the suture needle to be removed from the jaw, wherein a proximal end of each blade is rotatably connected to the drive assembly; and 
 
 a center rod slidably and rotatably disposed through the drive assembly, a distal end of the center rod being operatively engaged with the pair of jaws, 
 wherein an axial translation of the center rod results in one of an opening and a closing of the pair of jaws; and 
 wherein a rotation of the center rod causes the drive assembly to rotate resulting in opposed axial translation of the pair of blades. 
 
     
     
       2. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool assembly includes a support member defining a lumen therein, and the drive assembly includes a pair of barrels rotatable and translatable relative to each other,
 wherein the barrels of the drive assembly are supported in the lumen of the support member in such a manner so as to permit rotation and axial translation thereof. 
 
     
     
       3. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 2 , wherein a proximal end of each blade is rotatably connected to a respective barrel of the pair of barrels. 
     
     
       4. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive assembly further comprises a camming hub rotatably supported proximally of the barrels, wherein the camming hub defines a central lumen through which the center rod passes and a helical groove formed in an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
       5. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second barrels includes an arm extending proximally therefrom, wherein each arm is operatively engaged in the helical groove of the camming hub. 
     
     
       6. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 5 , wherein the arms extending from the pair of barrels are diametrically opposed to one another, wherein rotation of the camming hub results in reciprocal axial translation of the pair of barrels relative to one another. 
     
     
       7. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 6 , further comprising an actuation cable translatably and rotatably extending through the lumen defined by the barrels of the drive assembly, wherein a distal end of the actuation cable is operatively connected to the center rod such that rotation of the actuation cable results in rotation of the pair of jaws. 
     
     
       8. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 7 , wherein the actuation cable is translatable to axially translate the center rod between a first position wherein the jaws are spaced apart from one another and a second position wherein the pair of jaws are in a close spaced relation to one another. 
     
     
       9. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an actuation cable translatably and rotatably extending through a lumen defined by the drive assembly, wherein a distal end of the actuation cable is operatively connected to the center rod such that a rotation of the actuation cable results in rotation of the pair of jaws. 
     
     
       10. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 9 , wherein the actuation cable is translatable to axially translate the center rod between a first position wherein the jaws are in an open spaced apart relation to one another and a second position wherein the pair of jaws are in a close spaced relation to one another. 
     
     
       11. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a suture needle operatively associated with the pair of jaws. 
     
     
       12. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 11 , wherein the suture needle includes a barbed suture extending therefrom. 
     
     
       13. The endoscopic stitching device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an articulatable neck assembly to operatively support the tool assembly at a distal end thereof, the neck assembly being configured and adapted for articulation in at least one direction transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof. 
     
     
       14. A tool assembly for performing an endoscopic stitching procedure, the tool assembly being actuatable by a driving center rod that is slidably and rotatably supported in the tool assembly, the tool assembly, comprising:
 a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another, each jaw defining a needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof, wherein a distal end of the driving center rod is operatively engaged with the pair of jaws; 
 a drive assembly configured such that the driving center rod extends therethrough; and 
 a pair of needle engaging blades slidably supported, one each, in a respective jaw, each blade having an advanced position wherein a distal end of the blade engages a suture needle when the suture needle is in the respective jaw to thereby secure the suture needle to the jaw, and a retracted position wherein the distal end of the blade is out of engagement with the suture needle to thereby permit the suture needle to be removed from the jaw, wherein a proximal end of each blade is rotatably connected to the drive assembly; 
 wherein an axial translation of the center rod results in one of an opening and a closing of the pair of jaws; and 
 wherein a rotation of the center rod causes the drive assembly to rotate resulting in opposed axial translation of the pair of blades. 
 
     
     
       15. The tool assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a support member defining a lumen therein; and 
 the drive assembly including a pair of barrels rotatable and translatable relative to each other, 
 wherein the barrels of the drive assembly are supported in the lumen of the support member in such a manner so as to permit rotation and axial translation thereof. 
 
     
     
       16. The tool assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein a proximal end of each blade is rotatably connected to a respective barrel of the pair of barrels. 
     
     
       17. The tool assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the drive assembly further comprises:
 a camming hub rotatably supported proximally of the barrels, wherein the camming hub defines a central lumen through which the driving center rod passes and a helical groove formed in an outer surface thereof, wherein each of the first and second barrels includes an arm extending proximally therefrom, wherein each arm is operatively engaged in the helical groove of the camming hub. 
 
     
     
       18. The tool assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the arms extending from the pair of barrels are diametrically opposed to one another, wherein rotation of the camming hub results in reciprocal axial translation of the pair of barrels relative to one another. 
     
     
       19. The tool assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising a suture needle operatively associated with the pair of jaws. 
     
     
       20. The tool assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the suture needle includes a barbed suture extending therefrom.